Paper Example on Injuries That Occur in a Dentist Office

Introduction

Work-related injuries, which are typical unexpected events that are hazardous to one's health, can occur anywhere and anytime, affecting everyone irrespective of their background, level of expertise and profession. According to Glascoe et al. (2017), dental professionals and patients are highly prone to workplace injuries when executing their daily operations as compared to other healthcare professions. Recent studies on the work-related injuries reveal that occupational hazards in the dental office have enabled the dentists to be more cautious regarding their overall health (Glascoe et al., 2017). It follows that dental professions and their patients are predisposed to multiple hazards, which include exposure to the infections, percutaneous exposure, psychological problems, musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory disorders (Ayatollahi et al., 2012). This task will focus on investigating injuries that commonly occur in a dentist office.

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Injuries in the Dental Environment

Dental practices are associated with numerous workplace hazards. Whenever work-related injuries happen within the dental environment, the dental staff and clients (patients) are exposed to health risks which can be detrimental (Glascoe et al., 2017). Dental workers consider workplace injuries as the primary hazard of contracting critical diseases, resulting in job-related stress. Such high-risk injuries can be sustained by dental students or experienced dentists, thus the need for implementing effective infection control guidelines (Scully, 2015). Non-infectious injuries have often been disregarded when addressing dental injuries, yet they can pose a significant threat to the health and livelihood of dental staff. Scully (2015) identified minor accidents such as burns and scalds from autoclaves and eye injuries from acrylic and other particulate matter sustained in a dental environment as typical causes of injuries could be non-infectious.

Regardless of technological improvements in the dental profession, workplace injuries are inevitable. This implies that unexpected injuries can happen in dental practices irrespective of using technologically advanced equipment in the office. Glascoe et al. (2017) classified the hazards in to physical, chemical, biological and psychological. Physical injuries are typical in a dentist's office and can be in the form of eye injuries caused by projectiles, cuts from the sharp instruments and puncture wounds from razors and needles (Ayatollahi et al., 2012). There is the need of reviewing the literature on dental tool manufacturing procedures and their related safety concerns to minimize the office accidents since the occurrence of injuries leads to the propagation of critical infectious diseases to the dental workers and clients.

Reviewing of the dental environments reveal that dental staff is often exposed to non-infectious injuries and high-risk injuries which can be costly to both the institution and the injured worker. Sharp injuries in the dental offices occur due to sharp instruments utilized in the dental procedure, small operating field and frequent movement of a patient (Ayatollahi et al., 2012). The use of the local anesthetic syringe and recapping are primary causes of the sharp injuries in dentists. Scully (2015) observed that some of the activities such as cleaning of the instruments, changing and preparation of the anesthetic capsule and recapping exposed most of the dental workers to the percutaneous injuries.

Percutaneous injuries are the cause of concern in dentistry as far as the mitigation of occupational hazards is concerned. Dosman et al. (2016) performed quantitative research in Washington State to investigate the percutaneous injuries among dental professionals. The survey, which focused on the US hospitals demonstrated that syringe usage was among the leading cause of percutaneous injuries amongst dental workers (Dosman et al., 2016). Needlestick injuries and sharp injuries are common occupational hazards associated with dental staff since dentistry is characterized by dental procedures which are completed by the use of needles and sharp devices. In dental practices, it is common for the dentists to administer multiple injections to different patients. These activities increase the susceptibility of dental professionals toward the risks of sustaining sharp injuries or needlestick injuries. Due to the severity of percutaneous injuries, it is imperative to utilize devices as a way of mitigating the related health risks.

Needlestick injuries are significant occupational hazards for dental professionals since they lead to percutaneous exposure incidents, which pave the way for transmission of bloodborne pathogens such as Hepatitis B virus, HIV and hepatitis C virus (Dosman et al., 2016). Due to the prevalence of percutaneous incidents, there is a need for minimizing them due to the risks they pose. For example, the incidental punctures caused by contaminated needles can lead to the injection of hazardous fluids into the body system. Glascoe et al. (2017) noted that injection of hazardous drugs is a possibility; however, contact with infectious fluids after incidental puncture in a dental's office remains a primary cause of concern for the dental professionals, since even a small percentage of infectious fluid can be extremely contagious, leading to the spread of particular diseases effectively.

Safety Measures

Injuries orchestrated by typical safety risks such as slips falls and trips are hazardous to the dental professionals at the workplace. Usage of particular tools such as explorers, probes, needles, and drills increases the vulnerability dentists, hygienists and dental assistants towards various occupational injuries and infectious diseases through punctured wounds (Scully, 2015). The injuries in dental offices make dental professionals be predisposed to different infectious diseases, psychological problems, and respiratory disorders. The incidents of occupational accidents resulting in high-risk injuries and non-infectious injuries is continually high in the dental environment (Glascoe et al., 2017). Constant changes in the dental environment have brought significant safety concerns, especially on the injuries that occur in the dental office. It is vital to embrace the culture of safety when executing dental practices as a way of preventing and managing the severity of injuries that are likely to occur.

Needlestick injuries are the primary source of health risks for dental professionals. Prevention of the occupational exposures to blood is the most suitable approach of avoiding transmission of the borne pathogens in the dental offices (Gupta, 2011). The management should engineer controls which isolate hazards at the workplace that can result in injuries. Technology-based models which are integrated into the safer designs of instruments and devices. This involves the use of sharps disposal containers and self-sheathing anesthetic needles. These controls will play an integral role in minimizing escalation of health hazards such as exposure to bloodborne pathogens as a result of skin injuries caused by sharp instruments such as needles (Ayatollahi et al., 2012).

Potential risks in the dental environment which exposes workers into high-risk and non-infectious injuries should be identified and assessed. This involves evaluating dental staff during their daily routines and observe where accidents could occur. For example, sharp injuries often occur in dental practices, exposing the injured workers at the risk of contracting infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B virus, HIV and hepatitis C virus (Dosman et al., 2016). Musculoskeletal ailments are other potential injuries stemming from the strained back as a result of standing and sitting for a long period and excessive exposure to the radiations. Dosman et al. (2016) also identified hand injuries (carpal tunnel syndrome) which are caused by repetitive motions as a primary cause of concern for the dental professionals. All of these risks should be evaluated, to facilitate the structuring of safety policies.

Education and training on the use of the dentistry are essential when it comes to the prevention and management of the injuries that commonly occur in the dental office. Dental practitioners should be enlightened and be familiarized with every device used in the dental office by adhering to the manufacturer's safety guidelines and instructions (Gupta, 2011). Dental professionals should also routinely use rubber dams, ligatures, and throat packs when performing dental operations to minimize the incidents of the high-risk injuries. According to Gupta (2011), the use of personal protective equipment such specialized clothing or equipment wore (gloves, masks, protective eyewear, and gowns) should be prioritized to reduce occurrences of injuries, which can be severe.

Conclusion

Dental practitioners should understand safety precautions and prevention measures, which is a vital safety element for the patients and themselves. The overall health of the dental professionals at the workplace is essential when it comes to the creation of a safe working environment in dentistry. Adherence to the safety guidelines can significantly eliminate dental related injuries that commonly occur in the dental offices. It is therefore imperative to educate dental practitioners about the possible risks and effective methods of their prevention.

References

Ayatollahi, J., Ardekani, M., Bahrololoomi, R., & Bagher, M. (2012). Occupational Hazards to Dental Staff. Dental Research Journal, 2-7.

Gupta, T. (2011). Needlestick Injuries in Dentistry. Kathmandu University Medical Journal, 208-12.

Hailu, K., Lawoyin, D., Glascoe, A., & Jackson, A. (2017). Unexpected Hazards with Dental High Speed Drill. Dentistry Journal , 1-5.

Scully, C. (2015). Safety in practice: Sharps injuries. British Dental Journal, 1-3.

Shah, S., Merchant, A., & Dosman, J. (2016). Percutaneous injuries among dental professionals in Washington State. BioMed Central Public Health, 2-8.